Asian Champions League holders Al Hilal face an uphill battle to retain their title after being held to a disappointing draw in the first leg of the competition's final.
Hilal, who are also the tournament’s record winners, could not find an advantage against familiar foes Urawa Red Diamonds on Saturday night in Riyadh, the hosts up early in the first leg and then pegged back.
The opening stanza of an unprecedented third Asian Champions League showpiece between the pair finished 1-1, with Hilal's Salem Al Dawsari seeing red late on - much to the dismay of a trembling King Fahd International Stadium that had called and cried out for more.
Of course, they have been spoilt of late. Hilal are contesting a fifth Champions League final in nine years, hunting down a history-extending fifth continental crown. Three have come in the past four editions.
Urawa, those rivals from recent past, are not so decorated – the 2017 victory against Hilal represented their second title – but they bring back their 2019 conquerors to Saitama next Saturday as the sudden favourites for the trophy.
Hilal must wonder how they let slip a golden chance to head to Japan with the tie in their favour. They led on 13 minutes, Al Dawsari adding another moment of magnitude to his highlight reel.
Lurking at Urawa's back post, he latched onto Michael’s low cross that evaded everyone and ran right across the visitors' penalty area.
Al Dawsari, on the scoresheet in the 2019 final and the match-winner in Saudi Arabia’s famous World Cup win against Argentina five months ago, simply supplied the finish by firing high into the Urawa net. It sent the 50,000-odd crowd wild in celebration.
Soon, Hilal showed signs of a taxing schedule taking its toll. Having dominated the opening exchanges, they were suddenly lax in possession, with returning centre-back Ali Al Bulaihi almost letting in Urawa veteran Shinzo Koroki to score.
It was a portent of what was to come. Eight minutes into the second half, Al Bulaihi attempted to intercept a pass to Koroki but somehow contrived to send the ball ricocheting off the Hilal upright.
Koroki, now 36, continued his run and pounced on the rebound, finishing past a scrambling Abdullah Al Mayouf in the home goal. For the first time on the night, the Saudi support fell silent, in contrast to the 700 jubilant Urawa fans who made the long trip west.
Stunned, Hilal searched to regain the lead, with Moussa Marega drilling a low shot inches wide from the angle on the right. But this was as close as his side came.
Then, four minutes from time, a potentially decisive blow. Al Dawsari and Urawa vice-captain Ken Iwao collided when contesting a challenge and, as they sprawled on the turf, the Hilal man kicked out at his rival.
It was a petulant move, the referee brandishing a straight red to rule out Al Dawsari from the second leg. The Saudi star has been here before: he was sent off against Urawa in the 2017 final.
Much like six years ago, Urawa departed the first leg in Riyadh after a 1-1 draw. They edged out Hilal in the return fixture in Japan.
And so to Saitama once more, Hilal seemingly with a mountain to climb. No doubt, on a tight and increasingly tense evening in capital, the Champions League luminaries lost a little of their sheen.
The BIO:
He became the first Emirati to climb Mount Everest in 2011, from the south section in Nepal
He ascended Mount Everest the next year from the more treacherous north Tibetan side
By 2015, he had completed the Explorers Grand Slam
Last year, he conquered K2, the world’s second-highest mountain located on the Pakistan-Chinese border
He carries dried camel meat, dried dates and a wheat mixture for the final summit push
His new goal is to climb 14 peaks that are more than 8,000 metres above sea level
Founders: Abdulmajeed Alsukhan, Turki Bin Zarah and Abdulmohsen Albabtain.
Based: Riyadh
Offices: UAE, Vietnam and Germany
Founded: September, 2020
Number of employees: 70
Sector: FinTech, online payment solutions
Funding to date: $116m in two funding rounds
Investors: Checkout.com, Impact46, Vision Ventures, Wealth Well, Seedra, Khwarizmi, Hala Ventures, Nama Ventures and family offices
How to report a beggar
Abu Dhabi – Call 999 or 8002626 (Aman Service)
Dubai – Call 800243
Sharjah – Call 065632222
Ras Al Khaimah - Call 072053372
Ajman – Call 067401616
Umm Al Quwain – Call 999
Fujairah - Call 092051100 or 092224411
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
Fixtures and results:
Wed, Aug 29:
- Malaysia bt Hong Kong by 3 wickets
- Oman bt Nepal by 7 wickets
- UAE bt Singapore by 215 runs
Thu, Aug 30: UAE v Nepal; Hong Kong v Singapore; Malaysia v Oman
Sat, Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong; Oman v Singapore; Malaysia v Nepal
Sun, Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman; Malaysia v UAE; Nepal v Singapore
Tue, Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore; UAE v Oman; Nepal v Hong Kong
Thu, Sep 6: Final
'Will%20of%20the%20People'
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The specs: 2018 Peugeot 5008
Price, base / as tested: Dh99,900 / Dh134,900
Engine: 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power: 165hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 240Nm @ 1,400rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 5.8L / 100km
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
More on animal trafficking
Men from Barca's class of 99
Crystal Palace - Frank de Boer
Everton - Ronald Koeman
Manchester City - Pep Guardiola
Manchester United - Jose Mourinho
Southampton - Mauricio Pellegrino
The distance learning plan
Spring break will be from March 8 - 19
Public school pupils will undergo distance learning from March 22 - April 2. School hours will be 8.30am to 1.30pm
Staff will be trained in distance learning programmes from March 15 - 19
Teaching hours will be 8am to 2pm during distance learning
Pupils will return to school for normal lessons from April 5
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
The Bio
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity
